Chapter 253

The night deepened as the two sisters lay on the heated brick bed. Luna turned over suddenly and asked, "Sis, when did things start between you and Ryan?" Her voice carried a teasing lilt in the darkness.

Luna stiffened, her fingers unconsciously twisting the quilt's edge. "H-how did you notice?"

"Notice?" Luna chuckled softly. "The way you two keep avoiding each other's eyes—even Ethan noticed, and that boy's clueless."

A frustrated sigh escaped from under the covers. "It's only been... a month. I thought after the divorce, I'd just raise the kids alone. But then..." Her voice trailed off.

"Sis, do you love him?" Luna asked bluntly.

Silence. Love was a foreign concept to Luna. Her marriage to Darren had been arranged, and the divorce had been forced upon her. Love? She'd never dared consider it.

"Being with him... I feel safe," Luna finally admitted. "When he smiles, I want to smile too. No matter how hard the work is, if he's beside me, it doesn't feel so bad."

Luna squeezed her sister's hand in the dark. "That's love, you silly goose."

"But..." Luna's voice cracked. "A woman like me, with three kids..."

"Sis!" Luna cut her off. "If you ever want to leave the village, you and the boys can come to me. The city has opportunities now—you and Ryan could open a small shop. It'd be better than farming."

Luna didn't reply. She'd considered leaving, but the boys needed school, and she had no education...

"Sleep, sis. We have the market tomorrow." Luna gave her sister's shoulder a gentle pat.

That night, Luna tossed and turned, unable to rest. At dawn's first light, she rose to sweep the courtyard. But when she opened the door, she froze.

A basin clattered to the ground.

Luna rushed out to find her sister supporting Ryan, who was covered in snow. His face was deathly pale, and he clutched a tattered bedroll.

"Get him inside!" Luna hurried to help. The commotion brought Ethan and Ethan running, and together they hauled Ryan into the house.

"Uncle Ryan, what happened?" Ethan fretted, rubbing his hands anxiously.

Ryan's lips were blue from cold, but he forced himself upright. "Ethan, Luna... I came to ask you something." He took a deep breath. "I want to marry your sister."

The room fell silent.

"I had a fight with my family last night," Ryan said bitterly. "My father said if I don't give up this idea, I'll never inherit the family carpentry business." He patted the bedroll beside him. "Now I've got nothing."

Ethan gaped, speechless. He looked from his sister to Ryan, his mind reeling.

Luna stood in the corner, biting her lip hard, tears welling in her eyes.